Darren Dunning
Encyclopedia
Darren Dunning is an English footballer who plays as a midfielder
.
, Dunning grew up in the village of Welburn
before attending Malton School. He began his career as a trainee with the Blackburn Rovers
youth system
, turning professional in February 1999. He joined Bristol City
on loan in August 2000, making his league debut for the Robins on 12 August 2000, in a 2–0 win away to Wrexham. He played nine times for City before returning to Blackburn that October.
His Blackburn debut came on 31 October 2000, Dunning playing all of the 2–0 League Cup
defeat away to West Ham United
. He also played one FA Cup
match and one league match for Blackburn before the end of the 2000–01 season.
He scored his first and only Blackburn goal in a 2-0 win over Oldham in the League Cup. He joined Rochdale
on loan in November 2001 and moved to Blackpool
on loan in March 2002, making just one first team appearance for Blackburn, in the League Cup that season. In November 2002, Dunning joined Torquay United
on loan, scoring the first league goal of his career in the 3–1 win at home to Southend United
, having replaced the injured Martin Gritton
in the 5th minute of the game. In January 2003, he moved to Macclesfield Town
on loan until the end of the season, when he was released by Blackburn.
In July 2003 he signed for York City
and was a regular in the York side relegated to the Conference National
at the end of the season. He remained with York until June 2006, when he left after rejecting a new contract with the club. The following month, he joined Conference North
team Harrogate Town
, teaming-up with his twin brother, Richard, and former York teammates Jamie Price and Dave Merris
. He made his debut in a 1–0 victory against Moor Green
and scored his first goal as Harrogate defeated Barrow
3–2. Dunning finished his first season, 2006–07, by starting in all of Harrogate's 48 games, as well as scoring five goals. He signed a new contract with the club in June 2008. He joined fellow Conference North team Gainsborough Trinity
in May 2009.
Midfielder
A midfielder is an association football position. Some midfielders play a more defensive role, while others blur the boundaries between midfielders and forwards. The number of midfielders a team uses during a match may vary, depending on the team's formation and each individual player's role...
.
Career
Born in Scarborough, North YorkshireNorth Yorkshire
North Yorkshire is a non-metropolitan or shire county located in the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England, and a ceremonial county primarily in that region but partly in North East England. Created in 1974 by the Local Government Act 1972 it covers an area of , making it the largest...
, Dunning grew up in the village of Welburn
Welburn (Amotherby Ward)
Welburn is a village and civil parish in the Ryedale district of North Yorkshire, England, on the edge of the Howardian Hills, near to the stately home Castle Howard. It is about 14 miles from York and 5 miles south-west of Malton/Norton. It is a popular area for walkers and bird-watchers. The...
before attending Malton School. He began his career as a trainee with the Blackburn Rovers
Blackburn Rovers F.C.
Blackburn Rovers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the town of Blackburn, Lancashire. The team currently competes in the Premier League, the top tier of English football....
youth system
Youth system
Youth system is a sporting terminology used to refer to a youth investment program within a particular team or league, which develops and nurtures young talent in farm teams, with the vision of using them in the first team if they show enough promise, and to fill up squads numbers in some teams...
, turning professional in February 1999. He joined Bristol City
Bristol City F.C.
Bristol City Football Club is one of two football league clubs in Bristol, England . They play at Ashton Gate, located in the south-west of the City...
on loan in August 2000, making his league debut for the Robins on 12 August 2000, in a 2–0 win away to Wrexham. He played nine times for City before returning to Blackburn that October.
His Blackburn debut came on 31 October 2000, Dunning playing all of the 2–0 League Cup
Football League Cup
The Football League Cup, commonly known as the League Cup or, from current sponsorship, the Carling Cup, is an English association football competition. Like the FA Cup, it is played on a knockout basis...
defeat away to West Ham United
West Ham United F.C.
West Ham United Football Club is an English professional football club based in Upton Park, Newham, East London. They play in The Football League Championship. The club was founded in 1895 as Thames Ironworks FC and reformed in 1900 as West Ham United. In 1904 the club relocated to their current...
. He also played one FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
match and one league match for Blackburn before the end of the 2000–01 season.
He scored his first and only Blackburn goal in a 2-0 win over Oldham in the League Cup. He joined Rochdale
Rochdale A.F.C.
Rochdale Association Football Club is an English professional football club based in Rochdale, Greater Manchester. They play their home matches at Spotland Stadium. Formed in 1907, they were accepted into the Football League in 1921...
on loan in November 2001 and moved to Blackpool
Blackpool F.C.
Blackpool Football Club are an English football club founded in 1887 from the Lancashire seaside town of Blackpool. They are competing in the 2011–12 season of the The Championship, the second tier of professional football in England, having been relegated from the Premier League at the end of the...
on loan in March 2002, making just one first team appearance for Blackburn, in the League Cup that season. In November 2002, Dunning joined Torquay United
Torquay United F.C.
Torquay United Football Club, nicknamed the Gulls, are an English association football club based in the tourist resort town of Torquay, Devon. They played in the Conference National in 2008–09, but were promoted to Football League Two after a 2–0 win over Cambridge United on 17 May 2009 at Wembley...
on loan, scoring the first league goal of his career in the 3–1 win at home to Southend United
Southend United F.C.
Southend United Football Club is an English football club based at Roots Hall Stadium, Prittlewell, Southend-on-Sea, Essex, who play in Football League Two. Their home ground is Roots Hall, and the club plan to move into a new 22,000-seater stadium located at Fossetts Farm.-Stadium:The club has had...
, having replaced the injured Martin Gritton
Martin Gritton
Martin Francis Jeremy Gritton is a Scottish professional footballer who plays as a striker who currently plays for Stockport County. He is a journeyman player and has previously played for Plymouth Argyle, Shelbourne, Torquay United, Grimsby Town, Lincoln City, Mansfield Town, Macclesfield Town,...
in the 5th minute of the game. In January 2003, he moved to Macclesfield Town
Macclesfield Town F.C.
Macclesfield Town Football Club is an English football team. The club was formed in 1874 and is based in the town of Macclesfield in Cheshire. The team play its home games at the 6,355 capacity Moss Rose stadium...
on loan until the end of the season, when he was released by Blackburn.
In July 2003 he signed for York City
York City F.C.
York City Football Club is an English football club based in York, North Yorkshire. The club participates in the Conference National, the fifth tier of English football. Founded in 1922, they joined the Football League in 1929, and have spent most of their history in the lower divisions...
and was a regular in the York side relegated to the Conference National
Conference National
Conference National is the top division of the Football Conference in England. It is the highest level of the National League System and fifth highest of the overall English football league system...
at the end of the season. He remained with York until June 2006, when he left after rejecting a new contract with the club. The following month, he joined Conference North
Conference North
The Conference North also known as Blue Square Bet North for sponsorship reasons, is a division of the Football Conference in England, taking its place immediately below the Conference National. Along with Conference South it is at Step 2 of the National League System and the sixth overall tier of...
team Harrogate Town
Harrogate Town F.C.
Harrogate Town Football Club is an English semi-professional football club based in Harrogate, North Yorkshire. The club was founded in 1914 and currently competes in the Conference North division of the Football Conference.-History:...
, teaming-up with his twin brother, Richard, and former York teammates Jamie Price and Dave Merris
Dave Merris
David Andrew "Dave" Merris is an English footballer who plays for Guiseley as a defender.-Career:Born in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, Merris won York City's Clubman of the Year award for the 2004–05 season. Merris signed a new deal with York at the end of the 2004–05 season...
. He made his debut in a 1–0 victory against Moor Green
Moor Green F.C.
Moor Green F.C. was a non-league association football team originally from the Hall Green area of south Birmingham but later based in the town of Solihull, West Midlands, England...
and scored his first goal as Harrogate defeated Barrow
Barrow A.F.C.
Barrow A.F.C. are an English football club founded in 1901 based in the town of Barrow-in-Furness in Cumbria. Following promotion at the end of the 2007–08 season, they currently play in the Conference National. The club spent over fifty years in the Football League between 1921 and 1972, and have...
3–2. Dunning finished his first season, 2006–07, by starting in all of Harrogate's 48 games, as well as scoring five goals. He signed a new contract with the club in June 2008. He joined fellow Conference North team Gainsborough Trinity
Gainsborough Trinity F.C.
Gainsborough Trinity Football Club are an English football club based in Gainsborough, Lincolnshire.Between 1896 and 1912 they were members of the Football League. They are currently in the Conference North, and play their home matches at The Northolme, which has a capacity of 4,304...
in May 2009.